I have been following along with this thread since it was started. To say that I feel deceived, hurt, and disappointed is an understatement. No one can understand how I feel. This thread has made it very clear that I have been disowned by the people who did give me my blackbelt.

Are you saying they cut ties with you?

Jordan Damon was like a brother to me and to see that he is denying my lineage is probably the most hurtful thing that has ever been done to me.

Jordan Damon said you are no longer tied together or is he denying that he promoted you to Black Belt? There is a huge difference between the two comments.

What hurts me more is that people now doubt me. I swear on my life that I am a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Jordan Damon. Both Jordan Damon and Ken Kronenberg were blackbelts when I received mine. This was somewhere around the year 2001. Since this ordeal started on the internet Jordan called me and left a message on my machine saying sorry for the way things are going but I'm with balance now so I can't give you rank because I just got mine, the rank I had before wasn't accurate.

Interesting comment. I hope you saved that message because, it would clear up a ton of misinformation. Actually, it would show that YOU were deceived and not the one possibly doing the deceiving. Check your state laws and see if you can post a mp.3 clip.

Well, if you want an investigation done on Kronenberg start another thread.

Look on the internet and see how many black belt fights Jordan did throughout the years. The picture on here doesnt lie not only was he a blackbelt but he had stripes on his belt.

Yes, again as I just told Dojostomz no one has told us what the BB is in. Is it Hybrid JJ, Kempo, another style etc etc etc. What Dod is pointing out is that BJJ uses a specific type of belt. The picture leads down another road but, it is not the scope of this thread about you.

Ken and Jordan are trying to hide this scandal from everyone because they want to save themselves. However they are ruining my name by doing this. I hate to call both of these men out but I have no choice. Its either them or me and I am not going to sacrifice all that I have worked for for two people that are ruining my life.

You may be correct. Interestingly enough, you had ample time to give questions and instead had a bunch of people post. Unfortunately, you should have been open from the start.

I am now in a very tough situation and dont know what to do. Why would I want to represent Jordan Damon now? He has lied to everyone and they are all trying to cover up something. Was he never a real BJJ Blackbelt? Is my belt not real? What do I do from here. I have talked to my boss at New York Jiu Jitsu and have explained this all to him and until this mess is cleared up he has removed my lineage and rank from all material. I have only told my employer and students what I was told by Jordan Damon and that is, that I am a Black Belt under him.

Look it sucks that this has happened and it doesn't taint your skills. The thing is the whole situation stinks. Apparently, these questions have existed for YEARS. So, you all are culpable in one fashion or another.

Earlier in the thread I stated I wanted to ask Mr. Kronenberg a couple of questions, I apologise for the delay but its been a long one at work for me.

Anyway, Mr. Kronenberg, I recognise you're a busy man and wish to say I appreciate you taking the time to post here, I only really have one question for you to confirm.

Has the Tai Kai ever graded Mr. Jay Russell to Black Belt in BJJ ?

I realise you've stated that it was "impossible" for anyone to have graded Mr. Russell in a previous statement however, given that Mr. Russell clearly disputes this, I'd like to have you simply confirm that one last time.

Mr. Russell. If you are telling the truth, it would help if you could scan a copy of any black belt certificate in BJJ that Mr. Damon awarded you which would presumably have his signature on it, and the date of the award.

Jordan Damon said you are no longer tied together or is he denying that he promoted you to Black Belt? There is a huge difference between the two comments.

Interesting comment. I hope you saved that message because, it would clear up a ton of misinformation. Actually, it would show that YOU were deceived and not the one possibly doing the deceiving. Check your state laws and see if you can post a mp.3 clip.

Well, if you want an investigation done on Kronenberg start another thread.

Yes, again as I just told Dojostomz no one has told us what the BB is in. Is it Hybrid JJ, Kempo, another style etc etc etc. What Dod is pointing out is that BJJ uses a specific type of belt. The picture leads down another road but, it is not the scope of this thread about you.

You may be correct. Interestingly enough, you had ample time to give questions and instead had a bunch of people post. Unfortunately, you should have been open from the start.

Look it sucks that this has happened and it doesn't taint your skills. The thing is the whole situation stinks. Apparently, these questions have existed for YEARS. So, you all are culpable in one fashion or another.

If Jordan left a message on Jay's machine, he knew he was being recorded in real time and gave his consent by leaving this message. This message can be posted here. Alternatively, since New York is a one party state, as long as both parties were in New York at the time of the call, and one party to the call was doing the recording, this recording is legal. See the Bill O'Reilly case.

Mr. Russell. If you are telling the truth, it would help if you could scan a copy of any black belt certificate in BJJ that Mr. Damon awarded you which would presumably have his signature on it, and the date of the award.

Same as above, except substititue "the head of Tai-Kai in Delaware" for "Mr. Damon." If Jay Russell and Jordan Damon had to go all the way to Delaware for Mr. Russell's formal belt presentation--as related by Edward Anthony--you'd think there would have been a certificate and photos from the occasion.

Here's an interesting little tidbit. Apparently Jordan Damon's Jiu-Jitsu Nation business partner Marc Stevens was featured in a TUF segment shot back in June and July. Scroll down to him in the link below. His blurb states that he trains with "Gracie Black Belt Jordan Damon."

Hello,
Jay told me that he sent in a post explaining everything and that it said it was waiting for apporval. This post answers lots of questions why hasnt it been put up yet?

As soon as I read that mail, I checked the post in question and approved it.

As with my own post which had exactly that same issue, I cannot provide a definitive answer why this happened however, I offer Mr. Russell an apology for the delay in his post becoming fully visible within the thread.

That said, I would still like Mr. Russell to answer the questions put to him by myself and others.

I am reposting my original message as I feel it wasn’t posted in a timely manner and may not have been seen by all. I also feel this post answers many of the questions that have been asked of me. I do not have a certificate stating the fact that I am a black belt under Jordan and would like to point out that it was common back then not to receive a certificate as many others also don’t have a certificate.Again I feel that I have answered all the questions that have been asked of me and I will not answer any more questions. This thread now should turn its attention to Jordan to answer questions about the discrepancies shown in this thread regarding the timing of his own black belts which are ultimately the issue here.Below is my original post. > I have been following along with this thread since it was started. To say that I feel deceived, hurt, and disappointed is an understatement. No one can understand how I feel. This thread has made it very clear that I have been disowned by the people who did give me my blackbelt. Jordan Damon was like a brother to me and to see that he is denying my lineage is probably the most hurtful thing that has ever been done to me. What hurts me more is that people now doubt me. I swear on my life that I am a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Jordan Damon. Both Jordan Damon and Ken Kronenberg were blackbelts when I received mine. This was somewhere around the year 2001. Since this ordeal started on the internet Jordan called me and left a message on my machine saying sorry for the way things are going but I'm with balance now so I can't give you rank because I just got mine, the rank I had before wasn't accurate. I assume this is the same situation with Ken Kronenberg. I have found two articles stating this information, http://home.cogeco.ca/~mmafighter/instructors.html. and http://www.onthemat.com/articles/Brian_Cimins_Interview_01_01_2003.html. I have also found numerous articles written about Ken stating he was a Tai Kai Machado Black belt in 2004. This is very strange since he was promoted by Phil in 2007. Look on the internet and see how many black belt fights Jordan did throughout the years. The picture on here doesn’t lie not only was he a blackbelt but he had stripes on his belt. Ken and Jordan are trying to hide this scandal from everyone because they want to save themselves. However they are ruining my name by doing this. I hate to call both of these men out but I have no choice. Its either them or me and I am not going to sacrifice all that I have worked for for two people that are ruining my life. I am now in a very tough situation and don’t know what to do. Why would I want to represent Jordan Damon now? He has lied to everyone and they are all trying to cover up something. Was he never a real BJJ Blackbelt? Is my belt not real? What do I do from here? I have talked to my boss at New York Jiu Jitsu and have explained this all to him and until this mess is cleared up he has removed my lineage and rank from all material. I have only told my employer and students what I was told by Jordan Damon and that is, that I am a Black Belt under him.